Ordering frames online may seem easy, but let’s be honest – choosing the right colors, frame, and design can feel overwhelming. Recently, one of our customers commented, “This is so much more fun than online framing, because of your help.” This customer had purchased framing online before but had such a great experience working with Tammi that she has been back multiple times since.

Lots of framing choices you can see and feel

You might think it’ll take too much time or be a hassle with all the choices, but that’s where we come in. Our job is to make framing fun, simple, and quick.  We’ll suggest the best colors, shapes, and textures to bring your project to life – exactly as you imagine it. You don’t have to settle for a white mat and a black frame. We have over 3500 samples on our frame wall, but we’ll start with just four or five, and chances are, one of those will be perfect. Our goal is not to show you hundreds of frames; it’s to guide you to one or two that look amazing and let you make the final choice.

You help create the look

You won’t be alone sitting at a computer screen, you’ll be helping create your vision. And if you don’t know what that vision is yet, that’s okay, too. Our expert framers have the experience to guide you through every step, helping you create the perfect design.

Custom glass and mat options

Enhance your space further with our custom mat and glass options to add a personal touch to your favorite photos.

Stop by and give us a try – we guarantee you’ll be thrilled with the final result. Celebrate every moment, big or small, with Frame Depot’s exquisite collection that transforms your memories into art.

Viva Magenta is Pantone’s Color of the Year!

Viva Magenta! The top color forecasted for 2023 has verve, and that is exactly what we need right now. Pantone has declared the color to set a trend this year because it merges the warm strength of the natural world with the rich, open horizons of the digital world. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, joyous and optimistic, powerful and empowering. It is assertive, but not aggressive; dynamic and bold, but fun; warm but also cool. The Red color family is an energetic group, encouraging experimentation and self-expression. Viva Magenta represents a positive future in an uncertain world. This color provides a psychological power and grace, giving us the verve we have been grasping for.

https://www.pantone.com/articles/color-of-the-year/what-is-viva-magenta

Word of the Day:

Verve – noun

enthusiasm or vigor; vivaciousness; liveliness; spirit

Using Viva Magenta in your home

Many of us have neutral-colored walls and furniture. It is safe, but sometimes can be a bit boring. Make a stand-out statement with Viva Magenta! Neutral spaces often beg for a focal point – something as simple as changing out sofa pillows with magenta ones might do the trick. What about a fabulous piece of magenta colored art? Or a colorful chair? Or a floral arrangement? Or will you be daring and paint a single wall Viva Magenta for a dramatic look?

Last year greens were the it color, and many of us embraced them; they were a soft, soothing shade. Red and Green are complementary colors, so try pairing Viva Magenta with Valspar’s color of the year, Green Trellis. The result will be a calm vibe, mixed with an energetic pop. Add polished silver hardware or frame and you’re set!

How are you going to use these colors this year? We can help!

Color Trends for the last 100 years

Of all the amazing color trends for the last 100 years … which decade do you like best?

1970

Earthy colors dominate. Beige, rust, avocado, and harvest gold play together for a decade.

1920’s

The Roaring 20’s were a decade of indulgence. The walls were neutrals and accents were bright.

Why does the frame cost more than the art?

Sometimes custom framing a simple, inexpensive print or poster winds up costing more than the art itself. A basic reproduction of famous art like American Gothic can be purchased for a few dollars. Custom framing that same print can be many times the original cost of the art. If you didn’t spend that much for the art, why would you spend more on your framing? Here are some of the reasons it’s hard to compare the cost of art to the frame cost.

An inexpensive print or poster is going to run anywhere from $3 to $300, depending on the quality of the print. A poster is mass-produced and printed with lesser-quality inks on thin paper. A giclée is a fine-art print with a limited print run or printed on demand. Giclées typically are printed with higher quality inks on heavier paper and are sometimes signed by the artist. Neither of these are one-of-a-kind, rare, original, or custom works of art.

What affects the frame cost of a project custom-framed with wood moulding?

• Material – it’s wood! A natural product takes time to grow and process. Hardwoods, softwoods, veneers, and pressed woods will all cost different amounts.
• Location of origin – was the frame made in the USA, Italy or China?
• Production – has the wood been hand carved or machine milled?
• Frame Finish – has the frame been hand finished and/or gilded in gold leaf?
• Quantity – this frame was ordered especially for you. Was the frame moulding purchased as length, already chopped to size, or pre-assembled?
• Glazing – is there glass or plexi? A non-glare finish? UV protection?
• Labor – this one-of-a-kind frame package was specifically designed for your art and put together just for you. That takes time and care!

Are you getting your money’s worth?

Framing protects your art from bugs, rips, and fading. A good framing display showcases your art so you can enjoy it daily. How can you really compare?

Additional Topics

Too good to be true?

When a big box frame shop advertises “50% + 20% off”, it makes you think you will get 70% off. Let’s say the original price of your project is $500. If it were 70% off, the final price would reflect a $350 savings.  If it is 50% + 20% off, the final price would reflect a $300 savings. Not quite the deal you originally thought.

Here’s the kicker: big box shops will frequently mark their prices up specifically so they can mark them down and offer huge sales. Ask yourself what the true original price is before purchasing. Compare our prices and quality – you won’t be disappointed!

Fun Facts

Grant Wood, artist of American Gothic

Grant Wood was an American painter best known for his paintings depicting the rural American Midwest. American Gothic was painted with oils on wood in 1930. The painting won 3rd place in a contest hosted by the Art Institute of Chicago, who then purchased it. The iconic house is in Iowa and is referred to as ‘The Dibble House’. Wood intended the characters to be Father & Daughter; the man was actually modeled after Wood’s dentist and the woman is Wood’s sister. The general reception was very favorable, but Iowans felt it made them look dowdy. A Grant Wood landscape painting sold for $7 million in 2005, so you can imagine what American Gothic would fetch today.

When you bring your mementos to us you expect the best and that is exactly what you will get from start to finish. We organize, design, and create complex framing projects from your vacation memory treasures. From creative ideas to hanging hardware, we provide innovative design and quality workmanship so you can enjoy your memories for years.

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Custom frame your travel memories